Belly button is the most visible part after a tummy tuck. When showing off the results of a tummy tuck, patients often want to have their tummy exposed. An unattractive belly button will prevent patients from doing that. When patients present to the office seeking a tummy tuck, one of the most common areas of discontent is the appearance of the belly button. I often describe post-childbirth belly buttons as having a ‘fish mouth’ appearance. The is the result of the belly button serving as a tether on the stretched, inelastic skin of the postpartum abdomen. That combined with varying degrees of muscle separation results in the unattractive appearance. A full tummy tuck involves translocation of the belly button stalk to a new location on the abdominal skin allowing for removal of the excess abdominal skin. The technique used for performing this ‘translocation’ often results in the degree of improvement in the appearance of the belly button. At Contour Plastic Surgery and MedSpa, we use our own technique for recreating the belly button, the inverted Y umbilicoplasty.
The inverted Y umbilicoplasty allows for a lower abdominal inset flap into the umbilical stalk reducing the contracture of the periumbilical scar. One of the most common complications from a tummy tuck is contracture of the periumbilical scar resulting in a narrow pinhole belly button with surrounding scar. The inverted Y umbilicoplasty inset flap breaks up the circular scar giving a better result. The incision pattern also allows for hooding of the upper aspect of the belly button and a triangular, narrow appearance that looks more like a normal belly button. Click on this link to schedule your appointment for a tummy tuck consultation at Contour Plastic Surgery and MedSpa today!
